Committee of the Whole - August 19, 2026 (Part 1)

The Cleveland City Council held a Committee of the Whole meeting on August 19, 2026, focusing heavily on procurement and development projects. Key procurement discussions included the approval of ordinances authorizing the sale of city-owned surplus property to the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 8 for property consolidation and green space maintenance. A major highlight was the approval of a $127 million private investment project, East 9inth Scarlet LLC, involving a 30-year tax increment financing (TIF) agreement to renovate two vacant downtown buildings into residential apartments and a hotel, with significant community benefits including workforce development and a $100,000 community equity fund contribution. The council also approved amendments to existing TIF agreements for the Circle Square development, extending terms to accommodate future phases. Other procurement-related actions included authorizing contracts for maintenance and upgrades of airport building automation systems and the procurement of new passenger boarding bridges funded by passenger facility charges. Additionally, the council approved various capital improvement projects such as street renamings, alley vacations for development purposes, and a major railroad bridge replacement by Norfolk Southern at no cost to the city. The meeting also addressed moral claims payments and amendments to grant budgets. Several discussions emphasized minority and women-owned business participation in contracts and the importance of living wage commitments in development projects. The council passed all ordinances presented and planned further engagement with developers and stakeholders to address downtown development challenges and infrastructure needs.